
My sons love dough balls with garlic butter and while we’re at home, making a batch together was another great way for them to see how food is made.
They love ordering dough balls with garlic butter when we eat out, so what a lovely way to pass the time and fill hungry tummies too!
Ingredients for 15 dough balls
300g | strong white flour, plus extra for dusting |
3/4 tsp | salt |
7g | instant yeast |
200 ml | water, tepid |
15 ml | olive oil |
30g | butter, room temperature |
3 | garlic cloves |
(Example ingredient amounts given, adjust accordingly to your requirements)

Method
- Put the flour, salt and yeast along with 150ml of the water in a food mixer with dough hook and mix on a low setting for 3-4 minutes.
- Slowly begin to add the remaining water and continue to mix for a further 6-8 minutes on a medium speed. The dough should be quite wet and stretchy when pulled.
- Add a little olive oil to a bowl or plastic container and add the dough. Cover with film and leave in a warm place to rise. You’re looking for it to double in size and this should take roughly an hour.
- While the dough is proving, place the butter into a bowl and crush the garlic. Combine the 2 and mix with a fork for a few minutes until the garlic is distributed evenly throughout the butter before placing in the fridge until needed.
- Heavily flour your work surface. Tip out the dough and coat the top of the dough with flour.
- Without kneading the dough, cut the dough into equal size portions.
- Making sure your hands are floured, take a piece of dough and start to form the ball by folding the sides into the centre, flip over and place onto a lined and lightly floured baking sheet making sure to dust off any excess flour from the dough ball.
- When all the dough balls are shaped, leave them for a further 20 minutes to finish proving them.
- In the meantime pre-heat your oven to 220°C fan/425°F.
- Bake the dough balls for approximately 10 minutes or until golden brown.
- Don’t forget to serve them with a generous dollop of your delicious garlic butter!
Notes
- This dough will also work really well for pizza bases and for ciabatta loaves or rolls.
- Bake these ahead of time and store them in a container with a lid. To re-heat them, place on a baking tray and put in a warmed oven for approximately 5-10 minutes.
